Oncology reports
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Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen presenting cells, which can stimulate a cellular immune response against malignant tumor cells. Many authors have described the phenomenon of tumor infiltration by dendritic cells and emphasized an immunosuppressive tumor influence on DC function. In the present study, we examined the presence of myeloid CD1c+ (BDCA-1+) dendritic cells and lymphoid/plasmacytoid CD303+ (BDCA-2+) dendritic cells in peripheral blood, lymph nodes and cancer tissue of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ Employing a multiparameter flow cytometry for CD1c, CD19, CD123 and CD303, we observed an accumulation of immature DCs in the tissues involved in the neoplasmatic process with the predominance of lymphoid/plasmacytoid over myeloid DCs. Moreover, in peripheral blood NSCLC patients had a significantly lower percentage of CD1c+ DCs than healthy donors. Our results suggest that NSCLC cells might hamper the maturation of DCs, thus escaping an efficient immune response.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate and estimate the impact on the biological effective dose (BED) of irradiation delivered to a tumour during high dose rate brachytherapy with a heterogeneous dose distribution in the target volume. The calculation of BED in combination with the critical-voxel model and the LQ (linear quadratic) model was used to evaluate the effect of different combinations of heterogeneous dose distribution. The model is called the dose volume inhomogeneity corrected BED (DVIC-BED). ⋯ The result stresses the importance to have control of the dose and the target volume during brachytherapy of prostate cancer. This is even more important when monotherapy with high dose rate brachytherapy is used and with a low alpha/beta ratio. The advantage of using this formula is that it is based on the LQ/BED formula and that different treatments with different fractions and treatments can be summated independently of the homogeneity of the dose distribution.
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Magnolia officinalis is a commonly used herb in East Asian countries and has multiple pharmacological effects. Although Magnolia officinalis has a variety of pharmacological effects on certain cancer cell types, the molecular mechanisms on urinary bladder cancer are unclear. An aqueous extract of M. officinalis inhibited cell proliferation in cultured human urinary bladder cancer 5637 cells. ⋯ Moreover, treatment of 5637 cells with M. officinalis extract suppressed constitutive and TNF-alpha-induced-nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation. Furthermore, the transactivation of TNF-alpha-stimulated NF-kappaB was inhibited by SB203580 treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that the p38 MAP kinase pathway contributes, at least partially, to the anti-cancer activity of M. officinalis extract in human urinary bladder tumor 5637 cells.
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Gastric carcinogenesis is a multistep process progressing from chronic gastritis, through glandular atrophy (GA), intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia. We have previously demonstrated that minority patients at New York City hospitals are infected with a relatively virulent strain of H. pylori (Hp) and that Hp infection is associated with an increased incidence of precancerous changes in the gastric mucosa. Nevertheless, precancerous changes are not observed in every Hp-infected individual, suggesting that environmental and genetic factors may also play a role in the formation and appearance of precancerous lesions. ⋯ In Hp-infected individuals, the MPO -463G/G genotype was associated with an increase in the incidence of IM in the antrum, whereas the A allele was associated with an increase in IM in the fundic region. These paradoxical findings suggest that different MPO genotypes are associated with the appearance of IM in distinct anatomical regions of the stomach. However, since the majority of gastric cancer (GC) cases in our patient population occurred in the antrum, the MPO -463G/G genotype, which is associated with increased MPO expression and antral IM, may be considered a risk factor for GC.
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Chordomas are rare neoplasms arising along the axial skeleton. Up to now, the most suitable therapeutic approach is based on a combination of surgical excision and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy in not applied due to its reported low efficacy. ⋯ We analyzed 14 chordoma samples for the expression of the Imatinib mesylate targets by means of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and found that PDGFR alpha and PDGFR beta are in some cases expressed in neoplastic cells, while the stromal counterpart of the same tumor shows the above receptors. Findings on the PDGFA/PDGFB expression suggest a receptor-activated status. Our study provides new insights into the specific localization of Imatinib mesylate targets in skull base chordomas that could be taken into account for the setting up of a pharmacological treatment for this tumor.